Google brings back the Horizon live wallpaper on Pixel 7
At launch, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro series lacked the “Horizon” live wallpaper, but it’s now available again to download and set as your background.
Starting with the Pixel 6a and continuing with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, the Living Universe collection lacked the “Horizon” live wallpaper that would reflect your battery percentage: “Look to the horizon. The sun rises as your phone charges, and lowers as the battery is used.”
All the other backgrounds were present, but the wallpaper that was introduced with the original Pixel in 2016 wasn’t for, seemingly, no particular reason.
In the past day or so, Horizon has returned on a Pixel 7 (running Android 13) and 7 Pro (Android 14 Beta 3.1) with a server-side update. It’s fantastic that this lapse has been addressed as it truly is a fan favorite that ambiently conveyed battery status.
The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will see mineral-inspired wallpapers. Meanwhile, the Pixel Tablet does have the Living Universe collection in Wallpapear & style, but only eight are offered. These are presumably the only large screen-optimized live backgrounds:
Bird’s-Eye View, Zion National Park
White Sands, Sonoran Desert
Flying above, Monument Valley
Garden, Kent, United Kingdom
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, CA
Pantheon, Rome, Italy
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia
Google’s updated privacy policy doubles down on using your data for training AI
AI is a bigger focus for Google than it ever has been, and in an update to its privacy policy, Google is doubling down on its ability to use data for training AI models.
As of July 1, 2023, Google has a new privacy policy in place for users. The update, highlighted by Gizmodo, is documented on Google’s policy site and has a key change.
Google has had a policy in place for some time now that allows the company to collect data from its users and use that data for “business purposes.” That includes for “research and development,” which has long included for building out and improving Google Translate.
Now, in the latest update to its policy, Google is including its AI models in what it can use data from you for. That also includes using the data to train Bard and Cloud AI “products.”
The updated policy matter states (new text in italics):
Google uses information to improve our services and to develop new products, features and technologies that benefit our users and the public. For example, we use publicly available information to help train Google’s AI models and build products and features like Google Translate, Bard, and Cloud AI capabilities.
In a later point, Google also notes that publically available information can also be used to train these models.
For example, we may collect information that’s publicly available online or from other public sources to help train Google’s AI models and build products and features like Google Translate, Bard, and Cloud AI capabilities. Or, if your business’s information appears on a website, we may index and display it on Google services.
None of this implies that Google is planning to use private data linked to your account for training but rather only public information. That’s going to happen anyway, as has been made clear with the rise of ChatGPT and other AI models, but Google’s new policy makes it clear the company intends to do the same thing with data from its users.
Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 processor appears to be slightly different from the one in Pixel 7
Google’s latest A-Series smartphones have felt faster than ever thanks to an upgrade to the same Tensor chips as their more expensive siblings, but in the case of the Pixel 7a, it appears that the Tensor G2 processor inside is slightly different.
The $499 Pixel 7a is a stellar device at its price point, as we brought out in our review last month, and a big part of that is running on the Tensor G2 processor. That brings better performance, slightly better efficiency, and a much better modem compared to the original Tensor found in Pixel 6a. And while all of that remains true, new evidence suggests that the Tensor G2 found in Pixel 7a isn’t the exact same one found in Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
Uncovered by Kamila Wojciechowska, the Pixel 7a is using an altered version of Tensor G2 that is known as the “IPOP” variant. The short version of what that means is that the chip found in Pixel 7a is packaged differently. It has the same components, but the surrounding casing is likely less costly to produce compared to the FOLOP-PoP tech that’s used on Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
Realistically, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem for most folks, but the added heat certainly isn’t appreciated. Tensor-powered Pixels have been notorious for heat problems, and every little bit helps.
Tensor G2 is also now included in the Pixel Tablet and Google Pixel Fold, but it’s unclear if those devices are also using altered versions from the smartphones we saw released last year.
Pixel Launcher’s Discover feed getting more Dynamic Color
The Google Discover feed to the left of the Pixel Launcher is getting a bit more Dynamic Color.
Before this latest change, only the top portion and Google logo saw Dynamic Color theming. It’s now being extended to the feed background. Instead of white or gray, you’ll now see something more vibrant to better align with your wallpaper. It doesn’t really impact the legibility of article images and headlines or the top carousel of widgets.
We’re seeing this expanded use of Dynamic Color in the Pixel Launcher’s Discover feed on Google app 14.26, which is the current beta release, but it’s not yet widely rolled out. This splash of vibrancy is somewhat nice when transitioning between the feed and your homescreen.
In other things, the Google app’s (short) Material You bottom bar is also not yet widely launched on phones for everyone after all these months. The M3 navigation rail is live on tablets, though it doesn’t support Dynamic Color yet and resorts to a blue accent.
It’s still crazy to me that Google has already launched its first foldable smartphone, but for the past few days, that’s what I’ve been using. Is it any good and, more importantly, is it remotely worth the cost? That’s what I’ll try to answer in our initial review of the Google Pixel Fold.
Hardware & Displays
Google’s first foldable is very well built
One of the biggest things Google is touting on the Pixel Fold is the build quality. I was skeptical of this at first given the company’s history but, really, they’ve mostly nailed it. The stainless steel frame of the phone is premium, though it is an absolute fingerprint magnet in the black variant Google sent out. The unfolded hardware is also incredibly thin, more so than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 I’m used to using, and even an improvement over other devices I’ve tried (even ones sold outside of the US).
This is also the first Pixel device since the Pixel 4 series (RIP) to have a matte back. The rear glass is soft to the touch and, while not quite to the same level as past Pixels, is quite good. I was disappointed to see some regulatory markings on the back, something that Pixels are usually free of, but it’s easy to forgive with the really nice hand feel that comes from the combination of matte glass and glossy stainless steel. It’s something that no other modern Pixel offers.
And, on top of that, there’s the size. The Pixel Fold is unexpectedly compact. I’ll talk more about using the 5.8-inch display later on, but the phone’s overall size is just a delight, at least when it’s closed.
Each time I pick up the Pixel Fold, I fall a little more in love with the hardware and build quality.
Of course, that’s not to say it’s perfect. The Pixel Fold is very heavy, weighing in at a whopping 283 g – that’s 20% heavier than the Pixel 7, and you feel it. That said, as someone who’s carried a Galaxy Z Fold for the past few years, I don’t really mind it, especially because Google’s foldable is thin. Keeping the Fold in my pocket really didn’t feel all that different from the Pixel 7 Pro in a case, even when the Fold was in its official case. The weight is a “problem” when you first pick up the Fold, but it becomes a non-issue after even just a few hours of use.
Another non-issue, at least to me, is the hinge. The stiff hinge is well-built as I mentioned, but it doesn’t always reach 180 degrees when you initially open it up. Rather, you have to exert some extra pressure to make it completely flat. This seems to be a lottery, with some Pixel Fold units being better or worse than others. My unit, at least, seems to be well-tuned. I’m typically seeing the device settle around 179 degrees when open, and I’ve gotten into a habit of just giving it a little extra push to hit 180 degrees.
Hinge tolerance is a problem that all foldables face. The Motorola Razr+ I just finished reviewing last week often settled around 178 degrees without an extra push, and a few months into using my Galaxy Z Fold 4, it’s hard to get a completely flat unfolding. The Pixel Fold certainly isn’t alone here, and according to Google, the resistance you feel during those last couple of degrees is actually a side effect of just how strong the hinge is. The company is insistent that the hinge can hit 180-degrees and, yes, that’s true.
1) The "not folding flat" thing:
Pixel Fold *can* fold flat (or nearly flat). But you need to really bend it to get it there – too much for comfort.
Explanation I was given (by an engineer, not PR): they used a high-friction hinge for rigid positioning. This was the tradeoff. pic.twitter.com/0RGBTrMu4E
On the outside of the Pixel Fold is a 5.8-inch display, backed up by a 7.6-inch panel on the inside. First, let’s talk about the outer display, because it might be the secret weapon of this device.
The Fold’s outer display is compact in a way we haven’t felt on a modern Pixel phone, and it’s also wide compared to most foldables I’ve tried. Through four generations, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series has stuck with a tall and super-narrow display that a lot of people really dislike. I am not one of those people, and have really come to love the feel of that display. That said, the Pixel Fold kind of nails it here. The outer display is super wide (roughly identical to Pixel 7 Pro, but vertically much shorter), which I thought would feel cumbersome, but the phone’s super-thin design helps make that okay.
In action, that small display is quite nice to use. Despite being more than a full inch smaller than what I’ve gotten used to on the Pixel 7 Pro, I don’t really feel like I’m giving anything up. And, in terms of usable area, it’s much better than Samsung’s option. Plus, the glass is flat!
The only real complaint I have on the outer display is the brightness, which feels a little low even though my entire review period was handled under dark and dreary skies. More testing will be needed.
The wide outer display also leads to a wide inner display. The 7.6-inch panel here is the same diagonal measurement as Samsung’s foldable, but it feels much larger due to its width. And this comes with its own set of pros and cons.
On the bright side, there’s a lot of room here. Tablet-optimized apps feel right at home, and we’ll get into some examples later on.
This size and aspect ratio are also really good for running two apps side by side, making the Fold a multitasking machine if you want it to be and without any real compromise. The two apps essentially have full, albeit short, smartphone displays to themselves.
To address the bezel, this is beyond a non-issue.
The Pixel Fold’s bezels are a good thing. They provide extra room for grip, both on the sides and the top/bottom, as well as allowing for a good-quality inner camera that doesn’t take away from the screen in any way. If you have an issue with the bezels, just don’t buy the phone – anyone who actually gives it a chance will tell you the bezels do not matter at all.
What does matter is how the screen feels and, yes, the crease.
Google’s hinge design sees the screen noticeably dip into the center as it’s closed
The screen here is using a layer of ultra-thin glass coated with a built-in screen protector – Google says that screen protector should not be removed. The screen feels alright most of the time, but I did notice that humid conditions leave it feeling a little sticky like early generations of Samsung’s foldables. It’s certainly far better than those devices in that regard, but it’s not quite up to par with most other recent foldables I’ve tried.
And, as for the crease, it’s totally fine. It’s not nearly as good as foldables from Oppo, Xiaomi, Honor, or even Motorola, but if those brands are the gold standard and Samsung is the bottom of the barrel, I’d put Google as the middle ground. You’ll feel the crease and sometimes see it, but in actual use, it becomes a complete non-issue.
Pixel Fold (L) vs Galaxy Z Fold 4 (R)
The Pixel Fold is too wide
My biggest problem with the Pixel Fold so far is that this phone is wide.
The open 7.6-inch display leaves a ton of room for activities as mentioned, but it’s cumbersome to use. The width makes it harder to hold the foldable with one hand when it’s open, and even when it’s closed, the small screen isn’t fully one-hand-able because it’s so wide. The width also leads to excessive wasted space inside when an app is forced into portrait mode.
But the real kicker is typing. Gboard defaults to a split view on the Pixel Fold, which I usually hate, but here that’s pretty much a necessity, like on the Pixel Tablet, because using the regular layout on the inner display requires either insanely long thumbs or some serious hand gymnastics. Even a few days in, I’m still not very happy with typing on the inner display as it’s uncomfortable and leads to constant typos – I’m pretty sure autocorrect is at least partially broken on this device currently.
I’m very much hoping I’ll get used to this with time, but right now, I’m of the opinion that the Pixel Fold is just way too wide.
Software & Performance
Google’s take on a foldable is clean, but not as capable
With the Pixel Fold being a multitasking-centric device, I was actually a little mixed about the Pixel experience being at the helm. As much as I love Pixel software, One UI feels like a perfect fit for this form factor. That said, Google’s experience actually holds up rather well, and there’s not much I felt myself missing from my Galaxy Z Fold 4.
The biggest advantage Google’s software has is that it’s clean. The Pixel experience is full of useful features, but they’re designed in a way that never feels cluttered. Buttons are more clearly labeled, information isn’t quite as dense (though not much space is wasted).
A good example of that is the notification tray. Where Samsung gives you one big column, Google takes advantage of the extra space by showing one panel with your quick settings to the left and one with notifications to the right. Admittedly, I’d have loved to see some more quick settings to fill the vertical space, but aesthetically, this is pretty well-balanced.
Google’s take on foldable software is also one where both screens contribute to the same experience. The Pixel Launcher displays the same layout inside and out, just with the inner display showing two panels at once. Google explained that this choice was made because it feels more convenient and fluid, but it’s something that the company will evaluate again in the future. The only problem I felt there was with the app dock, which has an extra slot on the inner display that you don’t get on the outside.
You’ll also feel this cohesive setup through apps. Obviously, using an app on the outside leads to that app just getting bigger when you open the display, but if you’re using an app on the inner display and then close the phone, the outer display will keep that app alive too. Where Samsung brings you back to the homescreen, Google will show the same app on the outside that you were just using on the inside. If you were multitasking on the inside, the last-used app appears on the outside. That also, oddly, leads to app pairs not sticking around on the inner display, but that’s ultimately a pretty minor annoyance.
Multitasking in itself is a feature that, personally, I actually rarely find myself using. I generally tend to use the foldable display as just a bigger space for my singular apps, but using two apps side-by-side does feel really nice on this display, and the taskbar makes adding apps easy. The feature I really found myself missing, though, was Samsung’s floating apps. Google doesn’t offer this, and I really would have appreciated the option on this expansive display. That said, just making the secondary app smaller had roughly the same effect.
The Google Pixel Fold runs Android 13 out of the box, with the usual update policy of three years of major Android updates (through Android 16 at least) and five years of monthly security updates. That’s behind Samsung’s 4-year promise for major updates, but it’s not really all that bad either.
The app situation is getting better
As usual with any big-screen Android device, the Pixel Fold faces the app problem. Android apps, in large part, just aren’t good at being on tablets, but this situation is very clearly getting better.
Some star pupils during my use of the Fold so far have been the Google Home app, the new Google Weather app, and Google Keep.
Notice the lack of third-party apps here? There are some good ones, like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord, but there are many that are slacking here. Twitter, Reddit, and others are letterboxed in, and other apps that once had a tablet layout, like Slack, just don’t work well.
But ultimately that’s not the fault of the phone and, if anything, the Pixel Fold’s existence may help us towards a future where these apps are a little better. And Google has struck a good balance, too. While I firmly believe that Samsung’s taller and narrower aspect ratio is better for most apps today, I ran into fewer problems on the Pixel Fold because Google forces apps to run in the correct aspect ratio, even if they have to be letterboxed.
Things would be slightly better if the Pixel Fold wasn’t so wide, though, something I predicted might be the case.
Tensor G2 is fast enough but is the Fold’s weakest link
As has been the case with Google’s past few Pixel products, much of the conversation with performance comes down to Tensor. The Tensor G2 processor here is the same one found in Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, which means it’s faster than its predecessor, has a better modem, and overall, just gets the job done. Sure, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is much faster, but you’re really splitting hairs to feel that difference.
Rather, the reason I’d prefer a Snapdragon here just comes down to efficiency. With Google mainly releasing Pixels in the late fall, I rarely get to experience how the phones handle heat during my review period. But between daily driving a Pixel 7 Pro through the first 85-degree days of the year and now using the Pixel Fold as North Carolina’s temperatures jump up and down, I’m reminded of just how Tensor fails here.
The Pixel Fold gets hot often and stays warm almost constantly. Just using the foldable for more than 15 minutes at a time leaves the bottom half feeling a bit warm, and escalating that with a game or something more intensive can just make matters worse. The heat is also somewhat more noticeable on the Fold versus the rest of the Pixel series just because of how thin the device is.
Is this a deal breaker? For many people, it might just be, and that would be fully understandable. For me, I don’t really run into actual issues caused by Tensor’s heat enough for it to be a problem – it’s mostly a minor inconvenience. But with the Pixel Fold costing double Google’s other most expensive phone and really, sitting at the top of the charts for the foldable market as a whole, the standards are higher, and Tensor really proves to be this phone’s weakest link by far.
Cameras
This is where Google Pixel Fold shines
Due to the inherent limitations of foldable form factors, these devices have historically struggled in the camera department. Even with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung still doesn’t really nail it here, and other brands are hit or miss – Oppo, Xiaomi, and Honor seem to have really figured it out, though.
Google, thankfully, seems to have kept up the Pixel’s camera legacy on the Pixel Fold. With my most of review period being stuck in dark and dreary conditions, I don’t want to solidify my thoughts on the camera just yet. But, at least so far, it seems like a winner.
The 48MP main camera doesn’t feel quite as strong as the 50MP sensor in the Pixel 7 and Pro, but the 5x telephoto lens is a godsend compared to my Galaxy Z Fold 4’s 3x lens, and I’ve been very happy with a lot of my shots so far.
One of the perks you’ll get on the Google Pixel Fold is the ability to shoot selfies with the rear camera by using the outer display as a viewfinder, and the Google Camera app adopts to this well. I think Google’s implementation of the button for switching to this mode is much more obvious than on other foldables, but the width of the Pixel Fold makes holding it and snapping the shot a little cumbersome, and skin smoothing felt very aggressive. I’m not much of a selfie taker, but I don’t remember past Pixels being quite as strong here.
Still, I’m far happier here than I’ve been on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 that’s usually in my pocket, so this is a big win in my book.
Battery Life
Maybe the best battery on a Tensor-powered Pixel?
In the few days I’ve been using the Pixel Fold so far, I’ve actually been really happy with the battery life.
I’ve been running roughly a 60/40 split on the outer and inner displays respectively, and have been managing 3-4 hours of screen time daily with a mix of social media, email, web browsing, the occasional game mixed in. Wireless Android Auto is also a fairly regular occurrence. The endurance isn’t perfect by any means, but for my usual 8 a.m.- 11 p.m. schedule, I find myself going to bed when the tank has hit the single digits.
If I know I’m going to be out later, or really out at all given Tensor’s inefficiency on mobile networks, I usually try to find a few minutes to plug in for a bit of extra juice. The wired charging, which hits around 22 W like the Pixel 7 series for the 4,821 mAh battery, is generally enough, too. Wireless charging, though, has been quite finicky even on Google’s own Pixel Stand. I suspect it’s just because this phone is so much smaller in its vertical footprint, as a pad-style wireless charger does work much better.
Repairability
With any foldable repairability is an important point to consider before buying, and that’s especially true with one from Google, given the infamous history of woes with Pixel customer service.
Tidbits
Haptics
Haptics feel less impactful on the Pixel Fold than they do on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. That’s not to say they’re bad, they’re still so much better than most phones, I just find myself noticing them less because they’re not as strong.
Fingerprint sensor
Unlike every other Tensor-powered Pixel phone so far, the Pixel Fold has a physical, capacitive fingerprint sensor. The sensor is built into the power button and, generally speaking, is very good. The success rate feels higher than the optical sensor found in Pixel 7 Pro, and if it does miss on the first try, it always gets it the second time around. I think this will get better with time as I get used to the placement.
Pixel Fold’s fingerprint sensor is built into the frame
Official case
If you’ve followed my time with Samsung’s foldables, you’ll know that cases are something I’ve felt foldables haven’t really nailed down. Samsung took about three years to really figure it out, but Google nailed it here right out of the gate. The official Pixel Fold case, which runs $60, fits onto the foldable well and uses minimal adhesive to do so. There are a couple of adhesive bits, but they don’t prevent easy removal. The case fits snugly, especially on the front, and the back half is super grippy. Overall, this case is a huge win and certainly worth adding to your purchase.
The verdict… so far
Six days isn’t nearly long enough to really come up with a final verdict on the Pixel Fold, but I’ve got a pretty good idea of where things are going at this point.
The Pixel Fold is a device that is way better than I expected, and shockingly, actually really good. Google has made some meaningful decisions with this device that help it stand out from the rest of the foldable market and, in some cases, rise to the top. The biggest win here is on Google getting to market with something this good, this early. In the US, Google is only competing with Samsung and, despite the Galaxy Z Fold’s clear advantages on repairability and the years of background knowing how these devices age, Google actually puts up a strong offer.
For a first-generation product, I’m blown away at just how good the Pixel Fold has proven itself to be.
It’s just far too expensive for what it brings to the table. I’m happy to forgive some of Google’s shortcomings with Pixel, such as the issues with Tensor, when the company is undercutting its competitors like the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro do, but with the Fold coming in at the exact same price Samsung is asking, it’s just not worth it. I canceled my personal Pixel Fold pre-order, and I’d only put up the money myself if the device was considerably cheaper.
This first Pixel Fold is a very solid foundation, but the improvements to Tensor that could arrive in a “Pixel Fold 2,” along with a price cut, are what Google needs to deliver to really sell me on this product.
Pixel phones have an unfortunate pattern forming when it comes to updates causing issues with battery life, and it seems the June update is causing another round of issues with battery drain for some users.
A Reddit thread from last week has picked up hundreds of comments from Google Pixel owners, many of whom have noticed that the June 2023 update is causing faster-than-normal battery drain on their devices.
Some of those affected report seeing their battery needing a charge by the afternoon and requiring a charge multiple times per day. Google’s Pixel phones have never had tremendously good battery life, but this is certainly not how things should be going. The phones even seem to be draining much faster when sitting idle. And, on top of that, the issue is also causing phones to run hotter than usual. The problem seems to mostly be affecting Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series devices.
The issue doesn’t appear to be universal, with some even claiming improvements following the update, but it’s certainly not an isolated case either. Some also report signal issues following the update.
The good news here, at least, is that a fix may end up coming sooner than later. Google tends to release new updates on the first Monday of the month, which puts a potential fix just a week from today. That said, with June’s update having been delayed by almost two weeks, it stands to reason July’s might, too.
June Feature Drop + Android 13 QPR3 rolling out: Pixel 7 Pro macro video, Palm Timer, new wallpapers, Home Panel
Starting on the camera front, the Pixel 7 Pro gains Macro Focus Video for “butterflies fluttering or flowers waving in the wind” after previously offering close-up stills (as close as three centimeters away) thanks to auto-focus on the ultrawide lens.
Similarly, Google Camera (on Pixel 6 and newer) will let you start a selfie timer (3 or 10 seconds) by raising your palm to the phone, a feature first introduced on the Pixel Fold. A yellow box will identify your hand before starting the sequence. This is very useful if your phone is propped up on a distant surface, though you can’t be that far away.
As debuted at I/O 2023, Emoji Wallpapers let you mix and match over 4,000 characters. Opening Wallpaper & style will reveal a new Emoji option alongside the other albums.
You can pick up to 14 emoji to display with the normal keyboard picker. The Patterns tab lets you select styles like Mosaic, Lotus, Stacks, Sprinkle, and Prism with a zoom density slider at the bottom. Lastly, you can choose a background and emoji color, while there’s also a “Randomize” option.
Once set, you have the option to make the emoji interactive. This is a live wallpaper, and a tap on your homescreen will cause them to react/jiggle. Emoji Wallpapers are available on the Pixel 4a and newer.
Cinematic Wallpapers (Pixel 6+) let you create a 3D image from any regular photo. Select an image for your wallpaper as you would normally, and in the top-right corner, you’ll be offered a new sparkle button to trigger the cinematic effect.
Google is estimating depth with an on-device convolutional neural network to estimate depth, while the in-painting as the background moves leverages a generative adversarial network (GAN). There’s a parallax effect when you tilt the device.
Home Panel on Pixel phones
First announced on the Pixel Tablet, Home Panel is coming to phones. When you tap the Home icon in the bottom-left corner of your lockscreen or the Quick Settings tile, you’ll see a new view that matches the new Google Home app’s Favorites tab.
Instead of having to customize a different grid of toggles just for this view, Google will carry over the in-app arrangement. Besides devices, this can include automations and actions. You’ll be prompted to unlock when accessing sensitive devices.
More for Pixel
In Recorder, Speaker Labels will be searchable in recordings, while named people will appear in the video clips you can generate (Pixel 6+). The app has also improved the transcription export option with your Speaker Labels appearing in Google Docs with accompanying time stamps.
On the safety front, you can start/stop Emergency Sharing with your voice, as well as tell Google Assistant to start a Safety Check. (“Hey Google, start a safety check for 30 minutes.”) Similarly, Car Crash Detection will share your real-time location and call status with emergency contacts in addition to calling emergency services.
In March 2023, Google made it so that Adaptive Charging no longer requires an alarm to be set. This is finally being announced this month of June 2023:
Adaptive Charging now uses Google AI to help extend the lifespan of your Pixel battery. When you plug in your phone, it can predict a long charging session based on your previous charging habits, and slowly charge to 100% one hour before it’s expected to be unplugged.
The company notes, “Adaptive Charging needs several days to learn your charging habits. The feature may not activate if your charging habits vary widely.”
Adaptive haptics will let the Pixel 6a and 7a “lower its vibration intensity when it detects that it’s on a hard, flat surface like a desk or table.”
There are only a handful of user-facing tweaks in Android 13 QPR3. When you swipe down for Quick Settings, the battery percentage is once again shown in the top-right corner instead of “Until xx:xx.” When setting wallpapers, there’s a revised fullscreen preview UI.
Settings app > Security & privacy > Screen lock page introduces a new “Enhanced PIN privacy” option that disables animations when entering a code on the lockscreen.
How to get Android 13 QPR3
If you’re on the Android Beta Program running QPR3 Beta 3.2, “opt-outof the Beta program in order to receive the public over-the-air (OTA) update.” You will not lose data. Google explains how:
“Important: You must take action and opt out of the program in order to receive the public update. If your device is running a beta QPR3 build, you will not receive a downgrade OTA when you opt out so your device will not get wiped. Once you’ve opted out, you will receive the public June OTA update as it becomes available (may take a week+ as this is a phased rollout).
“If you have a device that is currently enrolled and running Android 14 Beta (not Android 13 QPR3 Beta), opting out would apply a downgrade OTA (and wipe your device) per the usual program process.”
There are 23 security issues resolved in the Android 13 June patch dated 2023-06-01 and 34 for 2023-06-05. Vulnerabilities range from high to critical. The dedicated bulletin for Google devices lists 108 security fixes.
This summer, Google will leverage the over 1 billion Android devices out there to locate tracker tags and headphones. As part of this, Find My Device is getting a new logo.
For the past several years, the icon for the Find My Device app on Android has been a white pin with a phone at the center against a green background. It conveyed the map-based nature of the application. Google in 2022 did tweak it to remove shadows and better match other modern logos.
The obvious visual downside is that the logo will blend into the sea of other blue/red/yellow/green icons on your phones. Staying green, which evoked a sense of security and Android to a degree, would have better distinguished the app, especially since it’s one that you might be looking for in a panic. As of late, Google has shown a willingness to not bring the four-color design to apps like Play Books. That said, Google Authenticator and Arts & Culture clearly went the other direction.
This icon will presumably make an appearance when the Find My Device network launches later this summer. Google will let you view the location of tracker tags, headphones (launching later), and your mobile devices. The app will guide you when something is close with the ability to play a sound.
Google says “location data crowdsourced from the network is end-to-end encrypted, which ensures Google can’t see or use it for any other purposes,” with more details on the built-in privacy safeguards coming before the launch.
Android launching ‘Find My Device network’ for tracker tags, headphones, more
Google has just publicly unveiled its plans for a “Find My Device network” on Android that can seamlessly locate tracker tags (including Tile products), headphones, and phones.
While Google has long offered the “Find My Device” app, it’s currently only able to roughly locate devices via an internet connection or based on where they were last connected with Bluetooth. This can be useful for locating a lost phone, but it doesn’t help much for finding missing earbuds.
Beyond that, there’s a vast market of Bluetooth tracker tags, useful for making everyday objects locatable. Just last week, Google and Apple announced a partnership to make Bluetooth trackers and AirTags safer by alerting you to the presence of an unwanted tracker on your person. This functionality is now set to launch later this summer.
At Google I/O 2023, the company is finally announcing its (long in development) “Find My Device network,” which massively overhauls the way that lost objects can be found. If your phone joins the Find My Device network, it will periodically check for nearby devices to help crowdsource the location of any missing devices.
Importantly, Google emphasizes that “the Find My Device network was built with user privacy as a key priority.” To that end, the data used is end-to-end encrypted, “which ensures Google can’t see or use it for any other purposes.” The company says it will detail more of the network’s security and privacy safeguards ahead of launch this summer.
The Find My Device network is also expanding to two new classes of gadgets: headphones and Bluetooth trackers. Following firmware updates coming soon to headphones from Sony and JBL – as well as “existing Pixel Buds” – your headphones will be locatable via the massive network of over 1 billion Android devices worldwide.
Meanwhile, tracker tags from Tile, Chipolo, and Pebblebee will soon be fully integrated into the Find My Device network, potentially making tracking more robust while also removing the need for a brand-specific app. Notably, Google’s announcement makes no mention of the frequently-rumored Nest locator tag, aka “Grogu.”
Apple and Google team up to bring AirTag-like unwanted tracking alerts to all item trackers on iPhone and Android
Apple has announced a major new partnership with Google today to lead an “industry specification to address unwanted tracking.” Through the partnership, Apple and Google will create a “draft specification” to alert users about possible unwanted tracking by AirTags and other Bluetooth item trackers.
Currently, iOS offers a robust set of features to counter unwanted tracking and stalking with AirTag item trackers. The native iOS features, however, aren’t open to third-party item tracker companies such as Tile. Apple does offer a “Tracker Detect” application to locate nearby AirTags with an Android device, the app doesn’t scan for nearby accessories in the background. Instead, it only scans a user’s surroundings when the user initiates the scan.
The new technology developed by Apple and Google aims to address those limitations.
Apple revealed the news in a press release on Tuesday morning. As part of this partnership, Apple and Google have submitted a “proposed industry specification” to help combat the misuse of item trackers. The specification created by Apple and Google has been submitted as an Internet-Draft via the Internet Engineering Task Force.
The technology created by the two companies will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android.
In addition to Apple and Google, companies including Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy, and Pebblebee have expressed interest in supporting this technology. Apple says that it and Google will solicit feedback from other players in the industry as they continue to develop and refine the technology.
Today Apple and Google jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking. The first-of-its-kind specification will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms. Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, which offers best practices and instructions for manufacturers, should they choose to build these capabilities into their products.
Ron Huang, Apple’s vice president of Sensing and Connectivity, explained:
“Apple launched AirTag to give users the peace of mind knowing where to find their most important items. We built AirTag and the Find My network with a set of proactive features to discourage unwanted tracking — a first in the industry — and we continue to make improvements to help ensure the technology is being used as intended. This new industry specification builds upon the AirTag protections, and through collaboration with Google results in a critical step forward to help combat unwanted tracking across iOS and Android.”
Apple and Google will release a production implementation of the specification for unwanted tracking alerts by the end of 2023. The technology will then be supported in future versions of iOS and Android.
Find My Device rolls out Material You redesign with dark theme [U]
While the Find My Device app on Android gets the occasional update, Google has not revamped its UI in several years. That’s now changing with a big Material You redesign for Find My Device that also includes a dark theme.
Update 2/8: An updated version (2.5.011) of Find My Device is widely rolling out via the Play Store today. The changelog notes:
Refreshed app design
Find My Device can now help you locate devices, even if they’re offline by encrypting and storing your device’s most recent location with Google
Original 1/18: Upon updating to version 2.5.001, you’re finally greeted with a dark theme and modern account picker. This Find My Device redesign does away with the green accent for Dynamic Color throughout the UI.
After signing in, you’re now greeted with a list of devices associated with your account. Google has removed the integrated map view where your devices appear at the top underneath the app bar. The new list approach is much easier to browse with larger icons than before and more friendly thanks to the device name being listed next to each picture.
Once you make a selection, the map takes up more of the screen, while you get the same device information as before, including battery percentage and network. You can then Play sound, Secure device, and Erase device from the bottom of the sheet.
Tap the arrow in the top-left to return to all your devices, while the other corner is home to a modern Google Account switcher. Settings just links to Google Play services.
It’s somewhat surprising that Google didn’t use this redesign as an opportunity to release a new icon that will presumably be four-colored. Logo tweaks were made early last year. Meanwhile, the Find My Device website is unchanged today and still green.
The Find My Device redesign with version 2.5.001 is not yet widely rolled out via Google Play.
Following a couple of other spec leaks, yet another Pixel 8 leak is today offering new details about Google’s upcoming smartphones, this time including details about the display on both devices.
According to Kamila Wojciechowska for Android Authority, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are both set to have smaller displays. The Pixel 8 is apparently set to measure 6.17 inches, down from 6.31 inches. This time around, the smaller device will also finally adopt a 120Hz refresh rate, but the resolution will stay the same at FHD+ (2400×1080).
The Pixel 8 Pro would also see a reduction in size, but not one anyone will notice. The display will still measure 6.7 inches but with the panel measuring just one millimeter narrower. Both phones will also apparently make drastic changes to the corners of the screen, perhaps as a result of the Pro adopting a flat glass cover.
Interestingly, though, Pixel 8 Pro will apparently drop some resolution, going from the 3120×1440 of the Pixel 6 Pro and 7 Pro down to 2992×1344. This also cuts the pixel-per-inch to 490, down from 512. The good trade-off, though, seems to be an enhanced refresh rate on the Pro. The phone is apparently capable of more refresh rate modes, at 5Hz, 10Hz, 30Hz, and then anything between 60Hz and 120Hz. Pixel 8, meanwhile, would support 10Hz, 30Hz, 60Hz, and 120Hz.
Perhaps the most welcome upgrade comes with the brightness. Pixel 8 will apparently top out at 1,400 nits, while Pixel 8 Pro hits 1,600 nits. That’s up from 1,000 nits on the Pixel 7 generation in this same scenario with HDR. These values are coming from code, though, not actual measurements. Google rated Pixel 7 Pro with a peak brightness of 1,500 nits.
The Pixel 8 series is expected to arrive later this year.
It takes a great display to make a brilliant smartphone. Google’s most recent Pixel phones have been good in this regard, especially in realistic color reproduction. However, they’ve never quite matched the very best in some important areas, such as peak brightness and dynamic refresh rates. Google has frequently used older generation panels, presumably to save some money to position their offerings more aggressively. The downside is that its last flagship, the Pixel 7 Pro, while well-calibrated, was just not bright enough in some scenarios.
Thanks to a source inside Google, we’ve gained a lot of insight into the display specs and features of the upcoming Google Pixel 8 series, and a lot looks set to change.
Finally, flat edges for the Pixel 8 Pro
The perfect phone size has been an ongoing debate for years, and it doesn’t seem likely to end anytime soon. Regardless of your opinion on the subject, Google’s Pixel series offers two distinct display sizes — a smaller one on the non-Pro models (6.3-inch on the Pixel 6 and 7) and a larger, curved one on the Pro models (6.7-inch on 6 Pro and 7 Pro). While other specs of the phones aren’t exactly identical, it still gave users a choice.
With the Pixel 8 series, Google is tweaking the formula a bit. Firstly, the regular Pixel 8 is moving to a smaller display — 6.17-inch instead of the 6.3-inch on previous models. The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, retains the same 6.7-inch size, but the panel is now flat — good news for the many people who consider flat displays to be a positive thing.
Google has also fine-tuned the rounded corners of both models, more than doubling the corner radius in both cases. In other words, the displays are slightly less square than before and a little more rounded in the corners.
Brighter displays for HDR
Google has always used OLED displays for Pixels, and it’s no different this time around. What might be changing, however, is the source of the panels. The last couple of Pixel generations exclusively used panels from Samsung. The exception was a mysterious, unreleased device codenamed G10, which would have a BOE display instead. I speculated at the time of the initial reports that Google was testing the panel to evaluate whether BOE was reliable enough to be included in Pixel phones, and it now turns out it was true. While the larger Pixel 8 Pro has a panel from Samsung, just like the previous generations, the regular Pixel 8 has two sources for the panel: BOE and Samsung. My source couldn’t confirm whether Google will use both in the production process or if this was simply an early evaluation, but both panels share the same specs, which could suggest the former.
This Pixel generation also changes the resolution of the Pro phone for the first time since the Pixel 6 series. Google has opted for a slightly smaller 2,992 x 1,344 resolution for the Pixel 8 Pro instead of the old 3,120 x 1,440 standard, giving it a pixel-per-inch (PPI) density of 490, down from 512.
The resolution of the Pixel 8 remains unchanged, which, combined with the smaller display, means its PPI is slightly higher: 427 instead of 417.
The brightness of both of the phones has also been substantially improved, at least according to the values declared in code (which, keep in mind, can differ from reality). The Pixel 8 can supposedly achieve up to 1,400 nits peak brightness in HDR content, up from 1,000 nits on the Pixel 7. The Pixel 8 Pro has also been upgraded and can now display up to 1,600 nits in HDR, up from 1,000 nits on the 7 Pro.
An enhanced variable refresh rate for the Pixel 8 Pro
Since the Pixel 6 series, Google has used display refresh rate as a differentiator between different product tiers. For example, in the Pixel 6 series, the Pixel 6a was 60Hz, the Pixel 6 was 90 Hz, and the Pixel 6 Pro had 120Hz.
The Pixel 7 series made a significant adjustment — the Pixel 7a now has a 90Hz panel to match the Pixel 7. This was an interesting move; what was previously the prime reason to pay more for the base phone over the Pixel A series unit was now gone.
However, Google will rewiden that gap between the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 8 series, as the regular Pixel 8 now gets a 120Hz display.
The Pixel 8 Pro also has a notable upgrade of its own; a more variable refresh rate. My source’s information on the topic was limited. Still, it appears that the Pixel 8 Pro will be able to smoothly change the refresh rate between 60 and 120Hz, unlike the previous generations, which could only use a few predefined rates (as listed in the table below).
The benefit of this approach is that the display refresh rate can more accurately match different content, reducing screen tearing. For example, 24fps content could now be shown at 72Hz, meaning each video frame is shown for precisely three display refresh cycles (rather than five at 120Hz). Another way this could be utilized is for games. If Google implements this functionality, the display could match a game’s higher frame rates, completely removing tearing, similar to AMD’s FreeSync or Qualcomm’s Q-SYNC. Also, the new displays clock down to as low as 5Hz, saving power when the screen is not actively refreshing content.
That’s everything there is to know about the display on the Pixel 8 series. It appears that Google’s upping its game to compete with the very best in yet another aspect. So far, all the Pixel 8 leaks suggest the phones will be a huge improvement, and the display is no different. I can’t wait to upgrade to the Pixel 8 Pro when it comes out.
Available now, Google Wallet is once again expanding its list of countries with five more regions across the globe including several countries in the Balkans.
Announced in a brief community post recently, Google Wallet is now available in a few new countries primarily in the Balkans. The full list includes:
Albania
Argentina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
North Macedonia
Montenegro
With this added support, users are able to download the Google Wallet app on their Android devices and, if NFC is supported, use tap-to-pay in stores that offer it. These new countries also support Wear OS’s Google Wallet.
Of course, Google Wallet support varies even more wildly by your bank or credit card provider than it does by country. For example in North Macedonia, as one 9to5Google reader tells us, the functionality is limited to NLB Bank for the time being. It’s a similar story in Albania, where only ProCredit Bank Albania is supported. Google, thankfully, has a handy support page that will detail what banks and providers are supported in each country, including these new five.
Google Wallet supports adding any barcode or QR code manually, new driver’s licenses
Google announced a major Wallet expansion that adds the ability to manually add any barcode or QR code, adds support for IDs in new states, and more.
Rolling out soon, Google Wallet will be able to carry even more of what your traditional wallet might. That starts with expanded support for US driver’s licenses in Google Wallet, which adds support for Maryland today, and will come to Arizona, Colorado, and Georgia “in the coming months.” Google adds that, in the future, these digital IDs will be able to be used in some online applications, such as booking a car with Turo.
Beyond that, Google also says that Wallet is adding support for corporate badges “later this year,” and in Germany, Wallet is adding support for Deutschlandticket local public transport.
Perhaps most exciting, though, is Google Wallet’s new ability to save barcodes and QR codes to your cards manually. There’s no app/developer support needed here. Simply import the code as an image with a description and any relevant information, and you’ll be able to create a digital copy that lives alongside your other cards and passes. Google brings out examples such as a gym membership, transit tickets, parking passes, e-commerce returns, and more, but the possibilities here are pretty much endless. There’s no exact timeline on when this will arrive, though.
Finally, Wallet is also adding support for saving health insurance information and other “private passes.” This will be supported with Humana, as well as the UK’s National Insurance Numbers. This data is also locked behind your PIN/password and your biometrics.
You can use Messages RCS to check-in and save Google Wallet boarding passes
Google Wallet is getting a handful of new features at I/O 2023, including a Messages RCS integration for flight boarding passes.
You’ll be able to add a boarding pass to Google Wallet from the Messages app when an airline sends an RCS chat. Google announced earlier that there are over 800 million people with Rich Communications Service and it’s expected to hit a 1 billion milestone later this year.
Users will be able to complete the entire check-in process, like agreeing to safety policies, from that Messages RCS conversation wherein they’ll get the boarding pass that can be viewed and quickly saved to Google Wallet. Of course, it’s up to airlines to add support for this.
The Generic Pass API allows developers to use Google Wallet for gym memberships, auto insurance, reservations, and parking. Google is now adding a Generic Private Pass API to allow for health insurance and ID cards that contain sensitive information.
Google Wallet is also adding support for rotating barcodes that reduce the risk of screenshot-related fraud. This can be used for long-duration transit tickets and events.
Identity-linked passes will let the issue specify an email address that has to match with the currently logged in Google Wallet account before it can be saved. This is to prevent theft, reselling, and transfers.
On its own, Android is a strong platform upon which to build products like phones, tablets, and more. However, many of the things that make our smartphones smart come from the apps and services that Google adds on top of stock Android, particularly the Play Store, Play Services, and the monthly “Play System Updates” for core Android components.
Collectively, those three are referred to as the “Google System,” and each month, Google lists the latest updates and changes for them. Over the course of the month, the company will gradually add more notes, and we do our best to catalog and explain them here. So check back periodically to see what’s new.
The easiest way to check whether you need to update Google Play Services on your phone is to follow a direct link to the app’s Play Store listing and update from there, if available. To update the Play Store, tap your avatar in the corner, then “Settings.” Under the “About” section, you’ll see an option to “Update Play Store.” Meanwhile, Google Play system updates can be found through the Settings app, under About phone > Android version > Google Play system update.
Updating Google Play Services
After a messy two months of oddly timed patch notes, Google is now back on track, sharing the first details about the June updates in a timely manner.
First up, Google Wallet is gaining some improvements for foldable phones – perfectly timed for the upcoming launch of the Pixel Fold and the soon-to-be-announced Galaxy Z Fold/Flip 5 generation. One notable detail our team has uncovered is that foldable phones need to be closed in order to make payments or use passes.
Elsewhere in Google Wallet news, the app is adding a toggle that will let you disable the “fun animations “that the service occasionally shows when tapping your phone to make a payment.
Android owners can also expect the “Find My Device network” to arrive in the very near future. First announced at Google I/O, the Find My Device network will make it easy to locate lost devices – phones, tablets, earbuds, and even Bluetooth trackers – with the help of a massive network of Android devices while also maintaining privacy.
Google Play System Updates for June 2023
Account Management
[Phone] New alerts and recommendations to secure your Google Account.
Security & Privacy
[Phone] Find My Device now supports more devices, including accessories, using a new privacy-centric framework.
Wallet
[Phone] GPay support for foldable devices.
[Phone] Control to opt out of fun animations after you complete a payment or use a pass.
System Management
[TV] A reminder dialogue for pending system updates has been added.
After announcing personal account support last month, Google is now rolling out the ability for Workspace and Cloud customers to use passkeys.
Instead of having to enter the password for an account, you can just unlock your phone or computer (PIN, fingerprint, face unlock, etc). On the privacy front, “biometric data is never sent to Google’s servers or other websites and apps,” with a great deal of trust placed on phone/laptop security.
Passkeys have also been designed with user privacy in mind. When a user signs in with a passkey to their Workspace apps, such as a Gmail or Google Drive, the passkey can confirm that a user has access to their device and can unlock it with a fingerprint, face recognition, or other screen-lock mechanism.
Google first introduced passkey support for personal accounts as well as the Advanced Protection Program at the start of May.
It’s now coming to Google Workspace and Google Cloud accounts as an open beta today. Passkeys will be available for over 9 million organizations spanning businesses, schools, and governments, with Google noting how it’s the “first major public cloud provider to bring this technology to our customers.”
Especially for enterprises, passkeys can reduce phishing and other social engineering attacks since, compared to passwords, they “cannot be written down or accidentally given to an adversary.” According to early Google data (March – April 2023), “passkeys are 2x faster and 4x less error-prone than passwords.”
They are supported on Android, ChromeOS, iOS, macOS, and Windows, as well as Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Over the “next few days,” Google is “gradually enabling” passkeys for users and the corresponding console controls for Workspace administrators. Specifically, admins can allow people in their organization to “skip passwords at sign-in by using passkeys.”
This setting is off by default and has to be manually enabled by admins, though users “can still create and use passkeys as a 2-Step Verification (2SV) method” to be an alternative to the yes/no Google Prompt.
To start using passkeys instead of passwords, or as a 2SV method, in Google Workspace and Google Cloud, users can visit g.co/passkeys.
Create and manage your Google Passkeys, here’s how
Rather than pushing traditional passwords for account security, Google has been spearheading a new method that utilizes passkey. Passkeys are meant to be much more secure than conventional methods. So how do you set them up? This guide will help you create Google passkeys for compatible devices and manage existing ones.
What are Passkeys?
Differentiating passkey from conventional passwords can be a little confusing. As the technology progressed over the last year or so, it remained shrouded in a little bit of mystery. We, as users, didn’t really know what they would look like once they reach the public.
Now, we know that passkeys are just an extension of your device’s ability to utilize biometric logins instead of numerical passwords. For example, when logging into your Google Account, you can use a fingerprint reading or face unlock, if your phone is capable.
According to Google, creating passkeys means your account is more phishing-resistant and more secure than with a string of numbers, letters, and symbols. The user-facing upside is that you’ll never need to remember a login so long as passkeys are enabled. The only exception is if you choose to use a PIN or pattern rather than a fingerprint or face unlock.
Set up a Passkey for your device
For a majority of users, Google has opted to automatically create passkeys for some mobile devices with a Google account tied to them. Whichever method you use to sign into your device will be the method used for your Google Account.
Though some devices may be setup already, you can go and in see which devices have a passkey enabled. If you don’t see one for a device you want to enable it for, you can do so as long as it’s compatible. Here are the requirements:
Laptop or desktop that runs at least Windows 10, macOS Ventura, or ChromeOS 109.
Mobile device running at least Android 9 or iOS 16.
So long as the device meets these requirements, you’re good to create a Google Account passkey.
If the current device doesn’t use a passkey already, you’ll see Use passkey. Click or tap it.
To set up a passkey for a different device, scroll to the bottom and hit Create a passkey.
Note: It looks like this option is currently locked to Windows or macOS, with the option not showing up on mobile.
Hit Use another device.
Choose the device and follow the steps to verify it.
On a PC with a capable webcam or fingerprint reader, you might need to verify your Google Account on a separate device before you’re allowed to register that computer. It’s an extra step, though easy.
If you’re looking to retract access from any of your listed devices, you can always hit manage devices and sign out remotely. This will keep your account secured if you don’t necessarily need that device to have continued access.
Once you’re finished, you should be able to log in to your Google Account with a created passkey rather than your standard password. As Google continues to expand this feature and other companies follow, using passkeys will likely become the norm across most apps.
While we still have two more Tensor G2-based devices coming this month, Google’s next upgrade to Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 series will apparently bring some drastic upgrades to the chip’s specs.
According to tipster Kamila Wojciechowska through Android Authority, Tensor G3 is going to be a considerable upgrade with more modern cores, support for the latest storage standard, a new GPU, and more.
Leak: here's everything you want to know about the Google Tensor G3, the SoC that's gonna power the Pixel 8 series, exclusively on @AndroidAuthhttps://t.co/pYkShLO8up
Starting with the cores, the Google Tensor G3 will apparently change the core layout yet again, this time with a 1+4+4 layout. This is altered from Tensor and Tensor G2, which both had 2+2+4 layouts.
The single big core will apparently be Cortex-X3, which would be clocked at 3.0GHz. Behind that would be the far more modern Cortex-A715, with four of those mid-cores clocked at 2.45GHz. That’s a huge step forward from the Cortex-A78 that was in place on the Tensor G2. For the “little” cores, there would be four Cortex-A510 cores at 2.15GHz, again being much more modern compared to the Cortex-A55 in both past Tensor generations.
All of this was announced in 2022, so technically Tensor G3 will still be a bit behind, but far closer than ever.
These upgrades alone should provide a solid boost to the CPU’s performance as a whole, as well to to its efficiency. This also brings support for ARMv9, which allows for security upgrades. The Pixel 8, according to Wojciechowska, will use this upgrade to implement Memory Tagging Extensions (MTE) from Arm to help prevent memory-based attacks. This would also entirely remove 32-bit support, which Google had already stepped away from on Pixel 7.
Another major point of upgrade is with storage, with this new chip allowing Pixel 8 to support the faster and more efficient UFS 4.0 storage used in devices such as Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 11.
The GPU is also getting a considerable upgrade, with Tensor G3 reportedly picking up Arm’s new Immortalis GPU, specifically the Mali-G715. That’s not the latest generation, but the 10-core GPU will provide a considerable upgrade, including support for ray-tracing.
Tensor G3 will further upgrade video decoding/encoding, with the “BigWave” block. It retains AV1 decoding from Tensor G2, but also adds AV1 encoding for up to 4k30. For encoding, the Pixel 8’s chip would support up to 8k30, but it’s unclear if Google would actually ship the feature. An upgrade TPU is also coming under the codename “Rio,” will bring a faster clock speed at 1.1GHz. There aren’t any specifics, but it’s said to be a “considerable” upgrade. A new digital signal processor, “callisto,” brings a 4-core, 512KB/core configuration at 1065MHz, which is said to offload more image processing.
As previously reported, Pixel 8’s Tensor G3 chip also won’t bring any changes to the modem, which probably isn’t a big deal considering the major upgrade that came with the Exynos 5300 modem in Tensor G2. In a previous test, we found the Pixel’s modem performance comparable to Qualcomm.
Google Tensor G3 is also expected to be a 4nm chip made on Samsung’s process. The Pixel 8 series is expected to arrive in October 2023.
Call Screen is a feature on Pixel phones that allows the phone to manually, or automatically respond to spam calls using the Google Assistant. Now, Google is working to simplify the feature’s settings, for better or worse.
As first spotted by some Reddit users late last week, an update to the Google Phone app on Pixel phones is changing the settings for Call Screen.
The existing interface for tweaking Call Screen allows users granular controls over the automatic answering, with the ability to turn Call Screen on or off for spam, faked numbers, first-time callers, and private/hidden numbers. Users can opt to have Call Screen automatically answer the call on your behalf, weeding out spam by speaking to the caller on your behalf before handing the call over to you. Alternatively, the call can just come through as usual depending on the category. The granular controls give the feature quite a bit of flexibility.
The new settings for Call Screen on Pixel, though, change things up to be a bit simpler.
Instead of showing granular settings, there’s a “Protection Level” that users can select which includes three options as the folks at Android Police were able to show. “Basic” will decline only “known spam.” “Medium” will then decline spam and screen calls that are considered suspicious. Finally “Maximum” will decline spam and screen any call that is from an unknown number.
It’s noted that this change is appearing for some users on with Google Phone v106.0.534575879, but it doesn’t seem very widely available at this point.
This seems like a bad change on the whole.
Removing granular controls to this extent severely limits the usefulness of Call Screen on Pixel, and if anything ruins certain use cases. The “Maximum” setting seems far too aggressive, especially given that, at least in our experience, most real callers presented with Call Screen tend to just hang up after a few second. Beyond that, even “Medium” doesn’t seem to be a great middle ground.
Moving from a granular, customizable setup is just bad for everyone. It might be slightly easier to understand for the general user – having a single toggle for automatic call screening is the best change here – but it hurts the usefulness of Call Screen overall.